Ducks III : Sea Ducks

Long-Tailed Ducks call (sing) incessantly in late winter and spring (with Black Scoter, Herring Gull,Mar, NJ).


Male Long-tailed Duck on a pond along the Dalton Highway in Alaska (Lesser Yellowlegs calling, June).









"gup" call by same bird













The male Black Scoter courtship call is a mournful whistle. Other sounds include a staccato noise heard during the "forward rush" display, when a male paddles rapidly while crouching low in the water (2,20,43,66,111,145s), and wing whistling (27,34,38,118s).
(Mar, NJ)

whistle











whistles (time scale reduced)








forward rush sound








wing whistling (at 5-6kHz)









Wing noise by five males in short flight, lower Surf Scoter wing noise at end.




In contrast to Black Scoters, Surf Scoters are mostly non-vocal. These are soft grating calls and wing noise from displaying males (Mar, NJ).



wing noise

The wing noise is much lower than the whistle-like sound of Black Scoter.

A call variant at 3s, sex uncertain (Black Scoters calling).


This female had five silent males in tow. She occasionally called (Mar, NJ).












Harlequin Ducks winter off the jetty at Barnegat Lighthouse in New Jersey every year. The calls can be heard above the slapping of the waves.
(male, Dec)












(female, Dec)











Calls by a group of female Common Eiders (July, ME).